Lewis Hamilton continues to familiarize himself with Ferrari and will hold five days of testing with the team this week and next
Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 test with Ferrari caused quite a stir last week. The seven-time world champion’s first kilometers in Fiorano were eagerly awaited, sharing the Ferrari SF-23 with team-mate Charles Leclerc on Wednesday.
But what happens next for the 40-year-old? In fact, fans won’t have to wait that long for Hamilton to be back in the red racer, as he will continue his preparations for his first Formula One season in red this week.
Over the next ten days, Ferrari will have five days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with its regular drivers.
First, Ferrari will test in Spain for three days starting tomorrow, once again rolling out an SF-23 from the 2023 season. Ferrari is thus making use of its permitted contingent of so-called TPC tests (“Testing of Previous Cars”), because this year the teams will be limited to four days and 1,000 kilometers with their regular drivers.
Last Wednesday, Hamilton and Leclerc covered a total of 131 kilometers on the in-house track in Fiorano. This served more as a shakedown before Ferrari will conduct a more serious test in Barcelona from Tuesday to Thursday.
The Scuderia still has 869 kilometers left over the three days, which corresponds to 186 laps.
The following week, at the beginning of February, Ferrari will then take part in a tire test for manufacturer Pirelli, which will take place on the same track. The aim is to try out prototype tires before the new regulations come into force in 2026.
The Scuderia will be driving a modified SF-24 from the previous year and will convert the car to the new regulations as best as possible and remove downforce. The two regular drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will also take on the test work here.
Incidentally, McLaren is also taking part in a test for Pirelli this week and will be on the road for two days, Wednesday and Thursday, at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, before driving the Barcelona test together with Ferrari next week.
